If the hedge trimmers are electric, spray the blades and cutting bar with WD40. If that doesn't help then they are defective. If the hedge trimmers are rechargeable, the recharge them overnight and also spray the blades with WD40. Decent electric hedge trimmers should allow you to sweep slowly across normal branches without slowing and/or stopping. Extremely dull blades would cause this also however I'm not sure the cost of resharpening is worth the effort. Hedge trimmers are not expensive. If all else fails see Home Depot or Lowe's or Walmarts.
Handie :joke:
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Upstate NY and The Villages-If your not living on the edge, your taking up way too much room."